Bottle carrier with gusseted ends

ABSTRACT

A wraparound sleeve-type carton or carrier for bottled goods which is formed of a single blank and wrapped around a cluster of bottles arranged in double row formation, with the bottle tops engaged in apertures in a middle panel of the blank and the blank having end panels which are provided with locking tab formations engaged in cooperating apertures in overlapped panel margins when the blank is folded to bring the end panels into bottom wall formation beneath the cluster of bottles. Relatively small triangular panels for partially closing opposite axial ends of the carton are hinged to the end edges of the side walls, which end panels have integral tabs hinged to bottom edges and connected to the bottom wall forming panels by foldable triangular webs so that the bottom tabs may be folded so as to lie on the top faces of the bottom wall members where they are trapped beneath the end bottles in the carton thereby precluding inadvertent unfolding of the end panels which hold the lower portions of the end bottles against movement out of the ends of the cartons.

United States Patent Ganz [ Oct. 23, 1973 BOTTLE CARRIER WITH GUSSETEDENDS Inventor: Robert H. Ganz, Saddle River, NJ.

Assignee: Federal Paper Board Company, Inc.,

Montvale, NJ.

Filed: Nov. 30, 1971 Appl. No.1 203,156

Primary ExaminerWilliam T. Dixson, Jr. Attorney-Guy A. Greenawalt [5 7]ABSTRACT A wraparound sleeve-type carton or carrier for bottled goodswhich is formed of a single blank and wrapped around a cluster ofbottles arranged in double row formation, with the bottle tops engagedin apertures in a middle panel of the blank and the blank having endpanels which are provided with locking tab formations engaged incooperating apertures in overlapped panel margins when the blank isfolded to bring the end panels into bottom wall formation beneath thecluster of bottles. Relatively small triangular panels for partiallyclosing opposite axial ends of the carton are hinged to the end edges ofthe side walls, which end panels have integral tabs hinged to bottomedges and connected to the bottom wall forming panels by foldabletriangular webs so that the bottom tabs may be folded so as to lie onthe top faces of the bottom wall members where they are trapped beneaththe end bottles in the carton thereby precluding inadvertent unfoldingof the end panels which hold the lower portions of the end bottlesagainst movement out of the ends of the cartons.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BOTTLE CARRIER WITH GUSSETED ENDS Thisinvention relates to packaging and is more specifically concerned withimprovements in a packaging unit comprising a carton or carrier which isparticularly adapted to accomodate a plurality of cylindrical articlessuch as bottled beverages arranged in row formation therein.

Various packaging units have been developed for bottled and cannedbeverages or similar products which are generally designed to be formedfrom paperboard blanks, cut and scored so as to be set up into containerformation in the bottling or canning plant. The most popular typecarrier for bottled goods has been one having the form of a basket inwhich a plurality of open top cells are provided for receiving thebottles. There are a number of recognized disadvantages in the use ofthis carton. The most popular package for canned beverages hasbeen thewraparound sleeve-type unit in which two rows of cans are encased in apaperboard blank which is wrapped about the same with provision forholding the cans therein. Some effort has been made to employ thesleeve-type wrapper for packaging bottled beverages and like products.In the carriers designed for this purpose a top panel is provided withapertures through which the bottlenecks may be made to protrude or inwhich the bottle tops are engaged and the ends of the blank have beenwrapped around the assembly with the end margins connected in somemanner beneath the bottles. Generally some provision is made forseparating the bottles in the rows. However the problem of retaining thebottles against endwise movement, so as to prevent the end bottles fromfalling out of the open ends of the carton, has proven difficult ofsolution. Full enclosure by employing full end panels requires more thana desirable amount of paperboard stock and partial end flaps are noteasily retained in bottle holding position. There has not been provideda fully satisfactory end bottle retention means for this type of carrierwhich does not unduly increase the amount of stock material required inits manufacture. It is a general object therefore of the presentinvention to provide a sleeve-type bottle carton or carrier structurehaving an end panel arrangement which insures that the end bottles willbe retained in the carton, which employs a minimum amount of boardmaterial and which lends itself to high volume packaging machingoperation.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a wraparound orsleeve-type carrier blank for bottled goods in which the middle panel ofthe blank is apertured to receive top portions of the bottles in adouble row cluster thereof, adjoining panels are folded down about thesides of the bottles and end panels are folded beneath the cluster ofbottles and end panels are folded beneath the cluster of bottles andconnected by interlocking tab formations, with the side wall panelshaving integral gusset forming panels on which there are bottomextensions adapted to be locked in position beneath the end bottles soas to partially close the ends of'the carrier and prevent inadvertentremoval of the end bottles from the carrier.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wraparound type carrierblank for packaging a cluster of bottles which are arranged in laterallypaired and longitudinally aligned row formation wherein the middle panelof the blank is apertured to receive top portions of bottles in a doublerow assembly thereof, the end panels are provided with interlocking orintcrengaging tab formations in the end margins thereof which areoverlapped and connected so as to form a sleeve about the bottleassembly, with the end edges of the side walls having integral gussetforming panels of relatively small size which are folded into planesinclined inwardly relative to the plane of the associated side wall andwhich gusset forming panels have bottom end extensions hinged theretowhich are connected by foldable webs to the bottom wall panels and whichare folded so as to rest beneath the end bottles and preclude unfoldingof the gusset panels thereby insuring retention of the end bottles inthe carrier.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a wraparoundsleeve-type carrier blank for packaging a cluster of bottles arranged inlaterally paired and longitudinally aligned row formation wherein a topforming panel is provided with apertures for receiving top portions ofthe bottles with adjoining side wall forming panels and with bottomforming panels on the opposite ends of the blank which are adapted tofold beneath the cluster of bottles and which have interengaging lockingtabs, and wherein the side wall panels have on their free edges gussetforming, generally triangular panels, with bottom extensions hingedthereto, which are connected to the bottom wall forming panels byfoldable webs so that when the carrier is set up the hinged extensionsare disposed inwardly of the end walls and beneath the end bottles wherethey are trapped and hold the triangular gusset panels against outwardmovement, thereby restraining the bottles against endwise movement atthe opposite ends of the carrier.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom a consideration of the bottle carton or carrier structure which isshown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging unit comprising two rows ofthree beverage bottles enclosed in a tubular carton or carrier whichembodies the principal features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the bottom portion of the cartonwith the bottles removed and the top portion of the carrier broken away;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the carton as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the packaging unit in FIG. 1 with portionsbroken away to show the bottom structure; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a paperboard blank which is cut and scoredpreparatory to forming the carton of FIG. 1.

Referring first to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a packaging unit whichcomprises a group of six beverage bottles B enclosed in a combinationcontainer or carton and carrier C of tubular or sleeve-typeconfiguration which incorporates therein the principal features of theinvention. The illustrated carrier is formed from a single blank ofpaperboard or other sheet material of suitable weight or thickness,which material is relatively flexible and bendable and which is capableof being cut and folded so as to form an open ended sleeve about thebottle assembly with sufficient strength and rigidity to support thebottles, which lends itself to high speed or high volume packagingoperations and which does not require complex machinery for handling thesame.

The paperboard blank 10 which is illustrated in FIG. 5 is cut and scoredto provide the walls and associated connecting members for the bottlereceiving carton and carrier of FIG. 1. The blank is generallyrectangular in shape and is symmetrical about the longitudinal centerline a-a. It is divided by longitudinally spaced, transversely extendingscore lines 11, 12, 13, 14 into a plurality of integral, interconnectedpanels largely of generally rectangular shape which are adapted to befolded into wall forming relation in the completed container. Thetransverse score lines 12 and 13 define between them the rectangular.panel 15 which is adapted to form the top wall of the carton C as shownin FIG. 1. The score lines 11 and 14 cooperate with the score lines 12and 13, respectively, to define a pair of generally rectangular sidewall forming panels 16 and 17 which in the set-up form of the containerare disposed along opposite sides of the bottle assembly. The oppositeend portions of the blank 10 are cut and scored to provide bottom wallpanels 20 and 21 which have marginal end portions adapted to overlap informing the bottom wall of the carrier and which have interlockingmembers for connecting the panels 20 and 21.

At one end of the blank the side margins are cut and scored to provide apair of side panels 22, 22' which are relatively narrow and which aresubdivided by end extensions 23 and 23' of the transverse score line 11to provide small triangular end wall panels 24 and 24 which are disposedon opposite sides of the side wall forming panel 16 and separatedtherefrom by hinge forming score lines 25 and 25' which are extensionsof the side edges 26 and 26' of the panel 16. The outside edge lines 27and 27 of the panels 24 and 24' extend outwardly to the ends of scorelines 23 and 23 where they merge into parallel side edge portions 28 and28' of the blank which constitute outer edges of bottom tab formingpanels 30 and 30, which are adapted to hinge on the score lines 23 and23', and the end portions of which are freed from the panel 20 bycutting on the laterally bowed or curved lines 31 and 31 and the smalldiagonal lines 32 and 32. The cutting lines 31 and 31 extend from theend edge 33 of the blank approximately two thirds of the distance to thetransverse score line 11 and relatively short score lines 34, and 34',35 extend from the intersection of the score line 11 with the scorelines25, 25 to the ends of the cutting lines 32 and 32 so as to define withthe latter foldable webs 36 and 36' connecting the panels 30 and 30'with the opposite sides or ends of the bottom wall forming panel 20. Themarginal portion of the bottom wall forming panel 20 is provided withtransversely spaced apertures 37 for cooperation with locking tongues 38formed on the marginal edge of the panel 21 at the opposite end of theblank.

In like manner the sides of the blank at the other end thereof are cutand scored to form generally rectangular panels 42 and 42' which aresubdivided by end extensions 43 and 43 of the transverse score line 14to provide small triangular end wall panels 44 and 44' which aredisposed on opposite sides of the side wall forming panel 17 andseparated therefrom by hinge forming score lines 45 and 45 which areextensions of the side edges 46 and 46' of the panel 17. The outsideedge lines-47 and 47 of the panels 44 and 44 extend outwardly to theends of the score lines 43 and 43' where they merge into parallel sideedge portions 48 and 48' of the blank which constitute the outer edgesof bottom tab forming panels 50 and 50', the latter being adapted tohinge on the score lines 43 and 43' and having the end portions thereoffreed from the panel 21 by cutting on the laterally bowed or curvedlines 51, 51' and the small or short diagonal lines 52, 52. Relativelyshort score lines 54, and 54', 55' extend from the intersection of thescore line 14 with the score lines 45 and 45 to the opposite ends of theshort cutting lines 52 and 52' so as to define with the latter, foldablewebs 56 and 56'. The foldable webs 56 and 56' connect the panels 50 and50' with'the opposite sides or ends of the bottom wall forming panel 20.The end margin of the blank is cut out as shown to form the locking tabsor tongues 38 which are part of a locking strip portion 60 of the bottomwall panel 21. The panel 21 is divided by the hinge forming transversescore line 61, which extends between the inner ends of the cutting lines52 and 52' where they intersect with the ends of the cutting lines 51and 51'. This enables the panel 60 to be swung about the transversescore line 61 in locking the panels 20 and 21 to form the bottom wall.The score line 62 is interrupted by small C-shaped cuts opposite each ofthe locking tab members 38 which C- shaped cuts are provided so as toform small tabs 63 extending in the direction of the opposite end of theblank for cooperation with the straight outer edge portions 64 of theapertures 37 in order to lock the panels 20 and 21 together. Thepanel'60 is swung about the hinge line 62 to insert tabs 63 through theapertures 37, after which the tab members 38 are passed through theapertures 37 and the panel 60 is seated against the bottom face of panel20 with the tab members 38 upstanding between the bottom portions oftransversely aligned pairs of the bottles.

Each of the panels 16 and 17 is provided at its bottom forming edge,which is defined by the score line 11 or 14, with a series of apertures65, extending on both sides of the score line and aligned with thebottom edges of the bottles or spaced in accordance with the bottlespacing in the rows, so as to enablethe bottles to be supported on smalllaterally reciprocable support fingers inmachine packaging operations.

The center panel 15 is subdivided by parallel transverse score lines and71 which are spaced longitudinally of the blank a distance determined bythe diameter of the bottles-The score lines 70 and 71 divide the topwall forming panel 15 into a median panel 72 and side panels 73 and 74.Each of the score lines 70 and 71 has spaced therealong a series ofapertures 75 corresponding to the number and spacing of the bottles inthe two oppositely disposed rows thereof. The apertures 75 are formed toreceive portions of the bottle tops or caps thereon and are designed tohold the tops of the bottles in position and prevent endwise move mentthereof. The median panel 72 is also provided with a pair of cut-outs 76which define. finger receiving openings from which depending tabs 77 areforced. The panel 15 is provided at opposite sidesof the blank withpairs of parallel score lines 80, 81 and 80., 81' which are aligned withthe transverse score lines 70 and 71 and which extend from opposite endsof parallel longitudinal score lines 82 and 82' to projecting side edgeportions 83 and 83' of the blank so as to define identification panels84 and 84'. Diagonal score lines 85, 85' and 86, 86 extend from theintersecting points of the score lines and 81 with the score lines 82and 82' and, with outer edge portions of the blank and score lines 80,81 and 80', 81, define connecting webs 87, 87' and 88, 88' extendingbetween the end identification panels 84, 84' and the panels 73 and 74.The apertures 75 in the top wall forming panel are of knownconfiguration and likewise the apertures 37 in the bottom wall panel 20and the locking tab members 38 and 63 are of well known configuration.The one side wall panel 17 may be provided with tear out lines indicatedat 90.

The blank when out and scored is assembled with and wrapped around adouble row assembly of bottles B so as to form the bottle closing tubeor sleeve shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. In the formation of the package unitthe identification panels 84 and 84' are folded down into the positionshown in FIG. 1 and the end wall forming panels 24, 24' and 44, 44' arefolded into planes which are diagonal relative to the longitudinalcenter line or vertical center plane of the carrier with the hingedlyattached bottom tabs or panels 30, 30' and 50, 50' being folded inwardlybeneath the bottoms of the bottles prior to the folding of the bottomwall forming panels 20 and 21 so that the latter are trapped between thebottom wall forming panels when the locking panel 60 is manipulated tolock the two panels 20 and 21 together with the tabs 63 and 38 beinginserted through the apertures 37 and the tabs 38 remaining inupstanding relation relative to the bottom wall thereby forming smallpartitions between the bottom edges of the pairs of bottles in the tworows thereof. The foldable webs 36, 36' and 56, 56' which integrallyconnect the bottom tabs 30, 30' and 50, 50 with the bottom wall panelsare disposed beneath the end bottles in the rows and the bottomextensions or tab members 24, 44 and 24', 44 have their end portionslodged against the inner edge of upstanding end tab members 38 therebyinsuring that the end wall forming panels 24, 24 and 44, 44 will remainin position to hold the end bottles against movement out of the ends ofthe tubular carrier.

I claim:

1. A package comprising a double row assembly'of bottles in a tubularcarton, said bottles being arranged in transversely aligned pairs, saidcarton being fabricated from bendable sheet material so as to provide atop wall with apertures for receiving portions of the bottle tops,depending integral side walls and a bottom wall with relatively small,upstanding divider panel members arranged between the bottles of eachpair thereof for separating bottom portions of the bottles, said sidewalls having relatively small end panels hinged to the bottom portionsof the vertical edges thereof which are in the form of gussets and whichare folded into engagement with vertical wall portions of the endbottles so as to retain the bottles against movement of the bottomportions thereof out of the ends of the carton, said end wall gussetpanels having integrally hinged bottom panels which are integrallyconnected to the associated bottom wall panels by generally triangularfoldable webs adjacent the junction of the side and bottom wall panelswhich webs are infolded so that they are disposed between the top faceof the bottom wall and the bottom faces of said gusset bottom panels,said gusset bottom panels having free end portions extending inwardly asufficient distance to engage in edge abutment with an upstandingdivider panel thereby to hold said gusset bottom panels in position andprevent unfolding of said gusset forming panels.

2. A package as set forth in claim 1 wherein said gusset bottom panelsare hinged to the bottom edges of said gussets and include endextensions which are disposed in overlapped and paired relation withtheir outer edges in engagement with the endmost upstanding dividerpanel members.

3. A blank for fabricating an open ended tubular carton which is adaptedto enclose, when set up, a plurality of bottles arranged in double rowforming relation and in longitudinal and transverse alignment, saidblank comprising a generally rectangular sheet of relatively stiff,bendable material which is divided by longitudinally spaced,transversely extending crease lines into a center top wall formingpanel, adjoining side wall forming panels at opposite edges thereof, andbottom wall forming panels at opposite ends of the blank, said blank endpanels having marginal portions at the ends of the blank which areprovided with locking tabs and apertures adapted to be interengaged tolock the panels beneath the bottles and to form the bottom wall of thecarton when set up, said side wall forming panels being creased alongopposite side edges to provide relatively small integral gusset formingpanel members of generally triangular configuration which are adapted tobe folded, when the carton is set up, into generally vertical andtransverse planes so as to snugly engage bottom portions of the verticalwalls of the end bottles in the rows thereof and said end panels beingcut to provide relatively narrow panels which are integral with thegusset forming panels and connected to said end panels by integral webportions which are adapted to be folded so that they are disposedbetween bottom portions of the end bottles and the top faces of thebottom wall forming panels with the outer edge portions of said narrowpanels adapted to be disposed in edge abutting relation with endmostlocking tabs.

4. A blank as set forth in claim 3 wherein said side wall forming panelshave side marginal extensions separated therefrom by score lines whichconverge in the direction of the ends of the blank so as to provide saidgusset forming panels.

5. A'blank as set forth in claim 4 wherein said bottom wall forming endpanels are subdivided by a pair of triangularly related score lines anda cutting line at each side of the blank soas to provide said narrowpanels.

6. A blank as set forth in claim 3 wherein said bottom wall forming endpanels have side marginal portions scored and cut to provide said narrowpanels which are adapted to hinge into flat engagement with the bottomwall and edge abutting relation with the endmost locking tabs when thecarton is set up into tubular form.

7. A carton for a row of cylindrical articles which are adapted to bedisposed in upright position in said carton, said carton beingfabricated from a blank of foldable sheet material which is cut andcreased so that it may be folded into tubular form with a top wallforming panel, depending side wall panels and bottom wall forming panelshaving upstanding members for separating the bottom portions of thearticles, said side wall panels having relatively small panels hinged tothe lower portions of the vertical edges thereof which are foldedagainst portions of the vertical walls of the end articles when thelatter are positioned therein so as to form gusset members whichrestrain the bottom portions of the articles against movement out of thecarton, and said gusset members having relatively small, integrallyhinged panels at the bottom thereof which integrally hinged panelshaving free end portions positioned in edge abutting engagement withsaid upstanding artiele separating members whereby said gusset membersare held against movement outwardly of the carton ends.

1. A package comprising a double row assembly of bottles in a tubularcarton, said bottles being arranged in transversely aligned pairs, saidcarton being fabricated from bendable sheet material so as to provide atop wall with apertures for receiving portions of the bottle tops,depending integral side walls and a bottom wall with relatively small,upstanding divider panel members arranged between the bottles of eachpair thereof for separating bottom portions of the bottles, said sidewalls having relatively small end panels hinged to the bottom portionsof the vertical edges thereof which are in the form of gussets and whichare folded into engagement with vertical wall portions of the endbottles so as to retain the bottles against movement of the bottomportions thereof out of the ends of the carton, said end wall gussetpanels having integrally hinged bottom panels which are integrallyconnected to the associated bottom wall panels by generally triangularfoldable webs adjacent the junction of the side and bottom wall panelswhich webs are infolded so that they are disposed between the top faceof the bottom wall and the bottom faces of said gusset bottom panels,said gusset bottom panels having free end portions extending inwardly asufficient distance to engage in edge abutment with an upstandingdivider panel thereby to hold said gusset bottom panels in position andprevent unfolding of said gusset forming panels.
 2. A package as setforth in claim 1 wherein said gusset bottom panels are hinged to thebottom edges of said gussets and include end extensions which aredisposed in overlapped and paired relation with their outer edges inengagement with the endmost upstanding divider panel members.
 3. A blankfor fabricating an open ended tubular carton which is adapted toenclose, when set up, a plurality of bottles arranged in double rowforming relation and in longitudinal and transverse alignment, saidblank comprising a generally rectangular sheet of relatively stiff,bendable material which is divided by longitudinally spaced,transversely extending crease lines into a center top wall formingpanel, adjoining side wall forming panels at opposite edges thereof, andbottom wall forming panels at opposite ends of the blank, said blank endpanels having marginal portions at the ends of the blank which areprovided with locking tabs and apertures adapted to be interengaged tolock the panels beneath the bottles and to form the bottom wall of thecarton when set up, said side wall forming panels being creased alongopposite side edges to provide relatively small integral gusset formingpanel members of generally triangular configuration which are adapted tobe folded, when the carton is set up, into generally vertical andtransverse planes so as to snugly engage bottom portions of the verticalwalls of the end bottles in the rows thereof and said end panels beingcut to provide relatively narrow panels which are integral with thegusset forming panels and connected to said end panels by integral webportions which are adapted to be folded so that they are disposedbetween bottom portions of the end bottles and the top faces of thebottom wall forming panels with the outer edge portions of said narrowpanels adapted to be disposed in edge abutting relation with endmostlocking tabs.
 4. A blank as set forth in claim 3 wherein said side wallforming panels have side marginal extensions separated therefrom byscore lines which converge in the direction of the ends of the blank soas to provide said gusset forming panels.
 5. A blank as set forth inclaim 4 wherein said bottom wall forming end panels are subdivided by apair of triangularly related score lines and a cutting line at each sideof the blank so as to provide said narrow panels.
 6. A blank as setforth in claim 3 wherein said bottom wall forming end panels have sidemarginal portions scored and cut to provide said narrow panels which areadapted to hinge into flat engagement with the bottom wall and edgeabutting relation with the endmost locking tabs when the carton is setup into tubular form.
 7. A carton for a row of cylindrical articleswhich are adapted to be disposed in upright position in said carton,said carton being fabricated from a blank of foldable sheet materialwhich is cut and creased so that it may be folded into tubular form witha top wall forming panel, depending side wall panels and bottom wallforming panels having upstanding members for separating the bottomportions of the articles, said side wall panels having relatively smallpanels hinged to the lower portions of the vertical edges thereof whichare folded against portions of the vertical walls of the end articleswhen the latter are positioned therein so as to form gusset memberswhich restrain the bottom portions of the articles against movement outof the carton, and said gusset members having relatively small,integrally hinged panels at the bottom thereof which are connected tothe bottom wall panels by integral webs folded so as to lie on thebottom wall forming panels where they are between bottom portions of theend articles and the bottom wall forming panels, and said integrallyhinged panels having free end portions positioned in edge abuttingengagement with said upstanding article separating members whereby saidgusset members are held against movement outwardly of the carton ends.